
Rainbow Scarab Ventral Surface- Phanaeus vindex
Shiny, rainbow femurs!!
I found this beetle near my mailbox this morning. My hands were full, but you better believe I found a way to carry this beetle inside for a photo shoot. I had just chilled it in the fridge before taking this shot, and its front legs were still hiding under its body.
Habitat: Semi-rural yard; captured and released
FUN fact: These beetles dig tunnels beneath animal poop. They move some of the poop into the tunnel, where the female lays eggs on it. The larvae feed on the poop until pupating.

''Phanaeus vindex'', the ''rainbow scarab'' or ''rainbow scarab beetle'' is a North American dung beetle, with a range from the eastern US to the Rocky Mountains.